While many young boxers in Mexico have turned
professional in their mid-teens, Jesus Silvestre hadn’t even laced up a pair of
gloves until he was 16. Though he was quick fall in love with the sport and was
fast tracked into the pro game even quicker (less than a year later. They don‘t
waste time down Mexico way!), he made huge strides. But after just 16 fights
(he went 15-1), he was offered a fight with then-WBO strawweight champion
Donnie Nietes. Despite being a non-title bout, it wasn’t something Silvestre
could pass up and though he was to be stopped in the 10th stanza in
the fight (which took place in the Philippines), it was a very important
learning experience. He brushed himself off and got back to work, winning a
minor title and positioning himself for a shot at the WBA interim 105-pound
title in late 2011. Again, Silvestre had to go on the road, this time to
Thailand where he met unbeaten Paipharob Kokietgym. Over 12 nip-and-tuck
rounds, “Negrito” came up just short, losing a razor-thin unanimous decision.
However, 2012 looked to be Sivestre’s year. When Paipharob could no longer make
105, Silvestre took on wily veteran Edwin Diaz. Though it was another tough
fight, this time, he prevailed and made a successful first defence late last
year, stopping Takuya Mitamura in four rounds to take his record to 26-3 (19).
The recently turned 23-year-old was due to kick off 2013 by meeting fellow
Mexican Ganigan Lopez in early January. However, a back injury curtailed that
and Silvestre’s currently recuperating and aiming to become the “full” WBA champion
this year before looking to secure a unification bout.

Anson Wainwright - What
are your plans for 2013? When do you hope to fight next? Recently, Ryo Miyazaki
won a split decision over Pornsawan Porpramook for the “full” WBA title. Is a
fight with Miyazaki something you are looking at in 2013?

Jesus Silvestre - First of all, I will look for the “regular” title
and then perform unifications or look for the [WBC] junior flyweight title that
Adrian Hernandez obtained. My promoter, Eddy Reynoso, is looking for the
opportunity to fight for the “regular” title. I still don't have date but I'm traininghard
for whenever it comes. Of course I would like to fight [Ryo Miyazaki]. I'm
looking for that. I want the opportunity and it will be an excellent fight
because both of us leave everything in the ring.

AW -
Last year, you won the WBA interim strawweight title, outpointing perennial
contender Edwin Diaz over the summer. Can you tell us about that fight and what
it meant to you to win the title?

JS -
First off, I recognized the level of my opponent; he came really prepared. It
was a tough fight but thanks to God and to our training, we could get the
triumph and get our first world championship. It was the most important triumph
in all my entire life and was momentum to get to the big leagues in the boxing.
As it is a hard and demanding sport, I’ll begin new goals.

AW -You followed that up
with a successful defence against Japan's Takuya Mitamura, impressively
stopping him in four rounds. Can you talk us through that fight?

JS - It was a short fight but with pressure, like against any Japanese-style, infighting
warriors, but I prepare for each combat like every champion and I
believe I demonstrated good skills. For that reason, I stopped him
quick.

AW - You were due to
fight on the 5th January against Ganigan Lopez. Why did that fight
not take place?

JS -
Unfortunately in boxing, it's a sport of contact and when I was closing
preparation in sparring sessions, I suffered an injury in my shoulder and
my trainer, for the risk of the outcome of the fight, he didn't let me fight.

AW - Who are the members
of your team, your manager, trainer and promoter? Also where do you regularly train?

JS -
My team is Jose “Chepo” Reynoso and Eddy Reynoso. They are the leaders of
Canelo Promotions, the boxing company where I belong, and my trainer is
the former [junior featherweight and featherweight] world champion Oscar “Chololo”
Larios, I train at the boxing academy of Saul Alvarez in Guadalajara,
Jalisco.

AW - What is a typical
day’s training for you?

JS -
The days in the gym are hard because of the good [training] level in the
academy and the sparring sessions help me, Horacio Garcia, Carlos Camacho,
Jorge Lara and some amateur fighters with good levels. Conditioning, it's
something really important for the boxer. I run between seven to 13 km in
the “Bosque de Colomos” and “La Barranca de Oblatos” here in Guadalajara to
obtain privacy. The last days, I ran in the track to get velocity. In the
gym, the training is composed by skipping rope, mitts, heavy bags, speed bag,
shadowboxing and we work on strength and conditioning as well.

AW - Could you tell us
about your youth growing up in Nayarit?

JS -
All the time, I had given thanks to God because my life was good when I
was a kid, not economically but I had a very united family and for me, that is
the best thing. I'm studying psychology and I'm very happy because I’ve almost
finished the career. I just want to get the absolute title and win another
title at junior flyweight to be a champion in two different divisions.

AW - How did you first
become interested in boxing?

JS -
It was 16 years old. A friend from my childhood took me to a boxing gym to see
how boxers train. I saw the dedication and hard work of the young boxers and I
got interested in boxing.

AW - What do you think
of the strawweight division and the current champions, the WBC’s Xiong Zhao
Zhong, the WBA’s Ryo Miyazaki, the IBF’s Mario Rodriguez the WBO’s Moises
Fuentes?

JS - I believe they are great fighters and would love to fight anyone anytime. I
train to fight with the best because I want to be the best.

AW - You fought Donnie
Nietes for in 2010. He stopped you in 10 rounds. Can you tell us about that
fight and how it helped make you a better fighter?

JS - It was a hard fight. It wasn't the appropriate moment to match Nietes. I
didn't have enough experience; however, it helped me a lot to develop myself in
this sport.

AW -
Away from boxing, can you tell us about yourself, if you could tell us about
your family life, what your interests are and if you have to work a day job?

JS - I have two sisters, my parents and a baby. We are a united family and
always they support me in everything. Now I work in the University Autonoma
of Nayarit and my most important interest - it's finish my career; achieve a
great future and family.

AW - Who was your boxing
hero growing up? Who do you look up to and look to learn from today?

JS -
Julio Cesar Chavez is my idol and Erik Morales is whom I had learn from
him all that time.

AW - In closing, do you
have a message for the strawweight division?

JS -
Train to your maximum effort. I’m looking to fight for the absolute title first
and then unifications. I want to be in the history and I would not
let anybody to ruin my dreams.